SUMMARY/PURPOSE OF ROLE: The Welfare Vice-President (or WVP) works toward alleviating the practical problems that make being a student so difficult. They run and fundraise for support services like the foodbank and the Hardship Grant scheme, as well as a collection of scholarship programmes for struggling students that cover costs like textbooks, and childcare. They also try to raise awareness on and off campus, by working on events like the Mental Health Awareness Day and campaigning on issues like the cost of student housing. In addition, they assist with other AUSA support services, from the Student Advice Hub to Parentspace and Womenspace, and oversee the other support roles on the AUSA Executive.

ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

AUSA Foodbank

The Welfare Vice-President must ensure the foodbank is well stocked year-round. This involves sourcing donations where possible or purchasing stock when necessary.

This includes ensuring the food bank always has bags (or an alternative) to hold food parcels.

The Welfare Vice-President must administer the foodbank, providing students in need with access to food parcels and coordinating distribution through AUSA House Reception and other receptions and campuses where necessary. This may include establishing how the foodbank can cater to individual students’ needs where necessary.

Food bank information must be recorded by the Welfare Vice-President.

AUSA Welfare Committee and Financial Assistance Services

The Welfare Vice-President is the chair of the Welfare Committee, which devises and implements its own policy and recommends broader policy to the AUSA Executive that serves the general welfare of students.

The Welfare Vice-President is responsible for convening and administering meetings. Meetings must be notified and organised and minutes must be taken and submitted to the Executive for approval.

The Welfare Vice-President must administer current financial grant schemes, which may include:

The AUSA Hardship Grant Scheme;

The AUSA/UBS Textbook Grant Scheme;

The AUSA/FLGC Childcare Grant Scheme; and

Any other viable opportunities that may arise to grant money to students in need.

Administering these services requires the Welfare Vice-President to ensure that the grant schemes are appropriately marketed and administered, applications are processed promptly according to policy, and databasing and reporting of relevant material is carried out.

Additional Welfare Initiatives and Events

The Welfare Vice-President is responsible for ensuring the welfare budget is viable and, to the extent possible, sustainable. This includes:

Fundraising initiatives as appropriate; and

Coordinating the sale of lost property administered by AUSA for the purposes of raising funds for AUSA welfare initiatives.